Friday, April 1, 2016

Washington, D.C. – April 1, 2016 – Today, the Federal
Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) approved
Report and Order 14-987af which reinstates the Morse
Code test for General Class and Amateur Extra Class
licensees. “It was a big mistake eliminating the Morse
Code test,” admits Dotty Dasher, the FCC’s director of
examinations. “We now realize that being able to send
and receive Morse Code is an essential skill for radio
amateurs. As they say, it really does get through when
other modes can’t.”

Not only will new applicants have to take the test, but
General Class licensees who have never passed a code
test will have one year to pass a 5-wpm code test.
Similarly, Amateur Extra class licensees that never
passed a code test will have one year to pass a 13-wpm
test. Those amateurs that fail to pass the test will
face revocation of their operating privileges. Materials
for administering the examinations will be distributed
to Volunteer Examiner Coordinators by the end of April,
so that they can begin the testing on May 1, 2016.

“This isn’t going to be one of those silly multiple-
choice type tests,” noted Dasher. “We’re going to be
sending five-character random code groups, just like we
did in the old days. And, applicants will have to prove
that they can send, too, using a poorly adjusted
straight key.”

Technician Class licensees will not be required to takea Morse Code test, nor will a test be required for newapplicants. “We discussed it,” said Dasher, “but decidedthat since most Techs can’t even figure out how toprogram their HTs, requiring them to learn Morse Codeseemed like cruel and unusual punishment.”

When asked what other actions we might see from the FCC,Dasher hinted that in the future applicants taking thewritten exam may be required to draw circuit diagrams,such as Colpitts oscillators and diode ring mixers, onceagain. “We’re beginning to think that if an applicantpasses an amateur radio license exam it should mean thathe or she actually knows something,” she said.
For further information, contact James X. Shorts,
Assistant Liaison to the Deputy Chief of Public
Relations for the FCC .

Well, now that all of you no-code Generals and Extras have your sphincters puckered down to f/16, look at the date of the FCC bulletin. (Actually, it's an old one -- from 1024.)

As for all of your Baofeng Techs out there..well..there's no excuse for you. You ARE dilettantes and ARE going to have to learn technical shit some time.